The retired prime minister and released prisoner attacked the Israeli spy's desire to immigrate to Israel. • What is his motive?
Apparently, this is again the fear of Netanyahu's success
What does Olmert have from Pollard?
Photography:
Moshe Shai, EP - Archive
Ehud Olmert and Jonathan Pollard have something in common.
Both were suspected by the authorities in their homeland of serious offenses, both were tried, both were convicted and both were imprisoned.
But what a difference between the two.
One spent most and best of his years as a prisoner, some of them in solitary confinement, in a harsh and blatantly ruthless prison system.
The other sat for almost two years in the VIP wing of the prison, earning almost every day hours of visits, as well as periodic vacations.
Pollard paid 30 years in prison for espionage for his people.
The man was convicted of transmitting intelligence documents that concerned the security of the State of Israel.
Yes, he also received money for the mission.
So what?
Is a permanent officer who receives a salary from the IDF and falls in battle, not worthy of recognition?
Netanyahu: "Expects Jonathan Pollard to arrive in Israel soon with his wife Esther" // Photo "GPO
Olmert, on the other hand, spent about a year and a half in prison after being convicted of accepting bribes and other offenses.
The man who was a veteran and senior politician, who was the mayor of Jerusalem, a minister, a cabinet member and eventually also a prime minister, betrayed public trust for bribe money.
Now Olmert has decided to oppose the idea of Pollard's immigration to Israel, after the restrictions that prevented him from doing so since he was released from American prison 5 years ago have been lifted.
But what does Olmert from Pollard even care?
Why was it so urgent for him to go against the man precisely when most Israeli citizens are excited about the possibility that he might soon be able to immigrate to Israel?
The truth is that Pollard does not interest Olmert at all.
The only one who interests the former prime minister is the current prime minister.
Since he was fired and Olmert has been jealous of Netanyahu.
He has not been able to see him continue in office all these years.
Olmert, who is competing with Ehud Barak for the title of "the failed prime minister in the history of Israel," was forced to get up every morning and see Netanyahu continue in office.
Olmert's fear is that Netanyahu will cut a political coupon from Pollard's arrival in Israel.
In his mind's eye he already sees the cordial meeting between Netanyahu and the Pollards on the plane or at the bureau in Jerusalem, and he is afraid.
Do not be surprised if you soon hear Olmert trying to cool the historic rapprochement between Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Not that he is, God forbid, against peace or against approaching the Arabs.
To remind you, this is a man who was willing to give the Palestinians the Western Wall.
But for Olmert, there is something more important than peace, more important than an Israeli hug to the one who gave his life for him and more important than anything.
The desire, of course, to see Netanyahu fail.
And that's the whole story.
And Pollard in this case is just another pawn on the way.